Jimmy is denied his three in a row
JIMMY Floyd Hasselbaink dropped his first points since becoming Northampton boss as both managers were left frustrated with a draw.
The Cobblers led 2-0 at half-time before-Southend hit back with two goals in three minutes at the start of the second half.
And Hasselbaink was irritated at having been pegged back.
“It’s disappointing and it feels like two points lost,” said the Dutchman, who has taken seven points from nine since his appointment earlier this month
“It will hit the confidence a little bit but I have some talented players here
“We have to keep on working and improving if we’re going to become a better side that’s more organised and together.
“We’ve got something from the game and when you’re the away team that’s good.
“But when you’re 2-0 up you should win the game and it’s disappointing we haven’t.”
Northampton opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Leon Barnett’s low shot from Yaser Kasim’s rightwing corner was deflected into his own net by Nile Ranger.
The Cobblers doubled their advantage in the 43rd minute as Matt Crooks curled a low 20yard shot into the bottom corner.
However, Southend stepped things up at the start of the second half with Jason Demetriou firing home a deflected 20-yard shot in the 48th minute.
And, two minutes later, Anthony Wordsworth – who was making his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury in April – burst into the box to score.
Southend wasted a golden chance to take the lead when Stephen McLaughlin headed wide from close range.
But the Cobblers dug in to pick up a point despite Crooks being shown a second yellow card in stoppage time.
And Shrimpers boss Phil Brown – whose side have now gone nine games without a win – was frustrated to pick up just a point.
“Having come back from 20 down it looks like it’s a good point but it’s still two dropped for me,” said Brown.
“I should really be sat here crying because I’m again bemoaning the fact we’ve thrown two points away.
“We’re a tad fragile at the moment and when we concede a goal we take our foot of the gas.
“The second half was the kind of second half I’m after, it was full of drive and determination.
“We have to be doing that from the start of matches but I’m still confident we will turn things around.”